Missouri Tigers: Reasons for fans to be thankful in 2017
By Jesse Holt
Missouri’s Offense is Lock(ed) and Loaded
Perhaps one of the best parts about being a Missouri fan in 2017 has been the emergence of Drew Lock in recent weeks.
While Missouri’s quarterback started off the season rough, Lock has really burst onto the scene as a top tier starter in the SEC. Through 11 games this season, Lock has passed for 3247 yards and 38 touchdowns versus 10 interceptions for the year.
Season-long stats don’t really tell the story of how much Lock has improved though. In Missouri’s first two losses against South Carolina and Purdue respectively, Lock posted an adjusted QB rating of no greater than 19.3. That’s on a scale of 100 in case you’re wondering!
Drew Lock: 3️⃣5️⃣ Passing TDs (leads the nation)
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) November 17, 2017
The only QBs in SEC History with 35+ TD Passes in a season:
Andre Woodson - 40
Danny Wuerffel - 39
Tim Couch - 37
Johnny Manziel - 37
Peyton Manning - 36
Aaron Murray - 36 pic.twitter.com/bZUjrjCwGB
Looking at the eye test, it’s easy to see just how comfortable Lock has become as the year has gone on. Over the past five weeks alone, Lock has tossed 21 touchdown passes.
Not just that, but there is now real conversations regarding the possibility of Lock exiting college a year early for the NFL draft. Fear not Mizzou fans as it’s unlikely we’ll see Lock enter the draft after this season.
In this writer’s opinion, it’s much more likely we see Luck return to Mizzou for his senior year. That should leave Tiger fans with plenty to be thankful for beyond 2017.